All this is packed into a cell-phone-sized unit being marketed by CarCheckup, LLC www.carcheckup.com . The company, based in Carmel, Ind., holds patents on the device, which has no buttons, dials or switches but connects easily to the OBDII port, located near the steering wheel of all cars sold in the United States since 1996. As the car is driven, the device records data. Then it can be plugged into any personal computer's USB port to provide a performance record or a mechanical condition report on the vehicle.
Jennifer Funkhouser, president and co-founder of CarCheckup, developed the device, working with other technology experts. She believes it will improve teen-age drivers' habits and skills and provide a lot of peace of mind for their parents.
"When CarCheckup is in the vehicle, it keeps a record of miles driven, extreme acceleration and braking, and highest speeds and RPMs," Funkhouser says. "Mom or dad can simply remove it from the car, plug it into a PC and go to our web page to see a record of driving performance . The young driver knows it's there, and the parents know it's there. We think this will promote honest dialogue and encourage kids to drive responsibly."
Funkhouser says the device's ability to interpret information stored in your car's computer is another exciting feature. "Almost everyone has had the check engine light come on while driving, and that can be scary," she said. "It could be as simple as a loose gas cap, but it could be something very serious like failed fuel injectors, which can be a very costly repair if not dealt with quickly. With CarCheckup, you will know why the light is on. But that's only one advantage.
"When you have your car serviced, the mechanic plugs a computer into the OBDII port, and is able to see a lot of information. For example, whether any sensors are malfunctioning or your emission system is not working properly. Most of us have always had to take the mechanic's word for it. Now anyone can see the same thing at home before going to a mechanic. We broke down every code and turned it all into simple English, so anyone can understand. You will know what the computers are telling the mechanic before he does."
Another advantage, said Funkhouser, can come with buying a used car. A test drive with the CarCheckup device plugged in can warn the prospective buyer if trouble is lurking under the hood.
Funkhouser said CarCheckup also makes keeping track of business miles simple and accurate. "The web site gives you an easy-to-read record of every trip," she said. "You just mark it as business or personal and print it out. The IRS recognizes a business mileage report from this kind of device as a valid record. Anyone who uses his or her personal car for business will save a lot of time."
Funkhouser said CarCheckup is compatible with all PC desktop and laptop computers, and will work on Apple computers using BootCamp, VMWare Fusion or Parallels v5.
She says other electronic devices will do some of the things that her company's product does, but she believes CarCheckup's solution is more effective and far easier to use than anything else on the market. The device sells for $149.97, which includes a year's subscription for one vehicle. Additional cars can be added for $25 a year. Currently it is available on the CarCheckup web site (http://www.carcheckup.com). Purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
About CarCheckup: The mission of Carmel, Ind., based CarCheckup LLC. is to empower consumers to take full advantage of the information available from their automobiles by helping them understand their cars' systems. The CarCheckup system is distributed by CarCheckup LLC., and is available directly from www.carcheckup.com.
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Media Contact:
Joe Bennett
CarCheckup LLC
317-574-0044 ext 203
jbennett@carcheckup.com